Ball in general, life on the road… on this blog, either you do or you don't.

Lucky Seven

Sorry for the absence. OK, really, I’m not sorry. I’m glad to have had the All-Star break. Wish it had been about a day longer. But anyway, let’s get going with the second half. Here are seven more questions for y’all to give me your thoughts on. As before, I’ll give my opinions in a few days after we’ve gotten plenty of responses.

1. The Cardinals begin the second half at 48-39. How many wins will they end the season with? Just for reference, if they win the same percentage after the break they’ll finish up 89-73.

2. As I write this, the Reds are four games back, the Brewers trail by 5 1/2 and the Astros by six. Who scares you the most?

3. If there’s one player not on the Major League roster that you would absolutely not trade in any deal, who is it? Why?

4. What should they do with the No. 2 spot in the order? Is there one person you’d put there every day? Mix and match based on the pitcher? Make it whoever is in left field? Make it whoever is at second base? Put Encarnacion back there? Edmonds? The possibilities are limitless — what’s your call?

5. Thanks to Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch and Bird Land for this one… What’s your favorite baseball book?

6. What’s the song of the summer thus far for you?

7. Who’s your favorite national sportscasting voice? Current or retired, even deceased is OK. Who’s the one person you most love to hear calling a game on TV or the radio? I’m not talking about individual team people, like Vin Scully or Chick Hearn. We’ll ask that question next week. This week I’m talking about national voices, and people who call (or called) games — not studio hosts.

1. I have high hopes that we get our stuff together and have another 100+ season. 102 wins.
2. Def the Astros.

3. I’m in SPFD, so all I really know are my boys here. I don’t know if there is one do-or-die keeper, but we’re making a bobblehead out of Chris Lambert, so it’d be silly to get rid of him too soon. Among others, Nick Stavinoha has looked really good at times, but he will still need a few seasons before they let him take off the striped socks. Rich Rundles is the only guy I’ve ever talked to, and he’s pretty nice, so I’d keep him. I wish Haerther would get out his funk.

5. Haven’t read Three Nights yet, but I’m sure that would be my favorite. Instead of reading a book, I might just as well watch the Ken Burns docu again.

6. “Conventional Wisdom” by Built to Spill.

7. Hmm…not sure, though what comes to mind is the guy who called the high school football games in my hometown. Left out an entire syllable in the town’s name. We were the Cam’ton Lakers by his account.

I’d like to rescind my answer to number 5 and replace it with “Golem’s Might Swing” by James Sturm. It’s a comic about a Jewish barnstomring team in the golden days of the minor leagues. Sturm also has an interesting take on the F4 in “Unstable Molecules,” one of my favorites.

I didn’t weigh in the first time, but I definitely will this time!
1) I’m feeling optimistic to say 94-95 wins, but in reality, besides that awful stretch near the end of the first half, the Cardinals, as confusing and random as they have appeared at times with the starting pitchers, left field, 2nd base and the bullpen going hot and cold, have won enough games to still keep them in first right now. I only see things going up while going into the second half.

2)After the trade yesterday I have no doubt that the Reds will be the most competition, however the Astros always seem to be right there at the end as well. We’ll see…

3)As much as I want Thompson to regain his good long relief form, I still wouldn’t have a problem packaging him or any other minor league player in the right deal. As long as the deal is pulling in something we really need, and isn’t just for a “rent a player,” I’m okay with it.

4)In reality Edmonds would make a lot of sense in the two hole just because he would see decent pitches before Albert. However, history tells me that he does better elsewhere in the line-up. I really hated Encarnacion there, so I think I’ll go with the left fielder, whoever that might be on a given night.

5)I really enjoyed “Veeck as in Wreck,” which explained the insanity that was Bill Veeck’s baseball life. (As a side note – his son now owns the baseball team in my city and I’m hoping for some good promotions!) However, I also enjoyed the autobiography of Branch Rickey, although I am unsure of the name right now. Both were definite pioneers in the baseball world.

6)Lately I haven’t been able to get “Move” by Thousand Foot Krutch out of my head.

7)This one is tough for me because I’m a bigger fan of the team guys overall. I suppose I’ll choose Joe Buck, although if I’m watching the game intently and not expecting good play by play I’d take Tim McCarver with hime… purely for entertainment value of course!

As answer to your question M, The reason I am so optimistic is because we have won four in a row, and Jason Marquis has had 3 straight quality starts. I also think that Mulder will come back healthy and I really like the rotation if it is 1.Carpenter,
2. Mulder, 3. Reyes, 4. Marquis (who is pitching well right now)and 5. Weaver/Suppan. Also, with Edmonds heating up, I do not think we will need another bat.

1. 91 wins. They will play a little better in the second half. J Marquis will throw well and Weaver is going to surprise a lot of people.

2. ‘Stros. They have starting pitching. The Reds have two starters and -after the Nats trade-don’t have much offense. I would say that it’s the ‘Stros, Brewers, Reds. The Brewers could really do some damage, but Chris Capuano has pitched out of his mind, Ben Sheets still isn’t back and they need some more offense. MIL has 2007 potential.

3. Colby Rasmus. He is the future at a key position. Plus, he gets on base and has power, something that Schumaker doesn’t have. I am not sold on Gorecki. He really slumped after the terrific April. While he’s a serviceable player, he would make for great trade bait. For pitchers, I would go with Mark Worrell. Sure, he’s ERA is still relatively high, but it ballooned because of one early season outing where he allowed 5 ER in 1/3 inning against Arkansas. He averages a K per inning, throws hard, has a funky motion and has shown the ability to close for Palm Beach and Springfield. Could be an eighth inning guy/closer in a few years. Makes batters miss more than any else in the high minors for the Cardinals.

4. Same modus operandi as LF. Give Dunc a lot of starts there. The Cards rank near the bottom in power production from the No. 2 hole. See what he can do. Luna could also see some time there.

5. Wow. Close between Boys of Summer and Men at Work. Both are terrific- but are very different books.

1.) 95
2.) After this terrific trade by the Reds… the Astros(if I had to choose someone). Honestly the only team that beat the will Cardinals is the Cardinals.

3.) a. Brad Thompson- He’ll be back on track before the playoffs.

b. Rick Ankiel- I’d hate to see him on someone else’s DL.

c. Wilfrido Pujols- Could you imagine two of them?

4.) I would put John Rodriguez in there for two weeks and see how he does. I wouldn’t take him out for a LHP and I wouldn’t give him a day off. Whoever is in there needs to be able to get comfortable before we can really see how successful that person is. I’m tired of seeing Duncan, Edmonds, Taguchi, Luna, and Rodriguez rotating.

5.) Heart of a Champion

6.) Goo Goo Dolls – Stay With You

7.) Joe Buck mixes quick wit and a terrific knowledge of whatever game he’s commentating and he does it all with class.

Mentioned by name? Alright, I’ll bite on a second seven. Should have some time as the game is just headed into the bottom of the fourth inning.

1. Say 91. No eight-game losing streak to sidetrack them and better pitching from the rotation. A real division race could spur them to 94.

2. Reds. GM with a willingness to roll dice to make team better and who has had a Midas touch this season. Recent trade either bolsters bullpen problem or looks real bad.

3. Rasmus. Club needs bona fide position player prospect. He appears to be the best right now.

4. Trade with the intent to fill that spot in the order over a position in the field. Otherwise, let Duncan take some whacks at the pre-Pujols pitches.

5. Fiction: Great American Novel by Philip Roth. Even as it skewers sportswriters its high comedy, high-wire plotting and high-brow writing. … Non-fiction: Eight Men Out. (Though I have a couple new Black Sox books to pick through and “Feeding the Monster” could be interested.)

6. “Galvanize” by The Chemical Brothers — from Bud commercial to anthem in just a few months!

7. Al Michaels. Bar none.

Back to the game. Rolen at first. Encarnacion up. One out. 2-2 count. Still, the bottom of the fourth inning. No runs in.

Or, as Matthew just reminded me (and I am perplexed how I could forget), there is one of the greatest baseball books written — one I have occasionally read to the young one: The Iowa Baseball Confederacy, by W.P. Kinsella.

Asked Joe Strauss, too. He said his favorite baseball book is probably the same as his favorite baseball movie, “The Natural.” Though there is an essential difference between the two.

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